Today’s Picture prompt and story starter (at the beginning of the story below in red) come from Honoré Dupuis and I chose them because I find them somewhat sinful and everyone knows writers like sinful stuff!
———-
Kokeshi was the name of the beautiful doll, a doll with no arms and legs. But that is where her similarity with her name ended.
She wasn’t Japanese, first of all, nor made of wood. Secondly, she wasn’t painted in delicate colors and she did not stay still. To make up for her lack of walking, her body danced and twitched. In place of her hands, her shapely mouth picked and spoke and ate and laughed, her large blue eyes winked and chortled at friends and family.
The day he saw her, he knew he had to have her. He made friends, making friends with Kokeshi was the easiest thing. He gave her lips tattoos– candy stripes in rainbow colors, weighed her eyes with false eyelashes, concealed her short hair in a beehive wig. You’ll be a new woman when we’re done, he told her, a tube of paint in one hand, palette in another.
Really? asked Kokeshi, How?
Close your eyes and sit very still, he grunted through the brush gripped between his teeth.
Hours later, when Kokeshi’s head and heart had cramped, and her heavy eyes had given way to sleep, he said, Open your eyes for my masterpiece.
Kokeshi now had long legs, and long arms wrapped around them. Her fingers and toes ended in perfect red nails.
Stay still, he said, or you’ll spoil the effect. Women the world over beg me to paint them and I decided to paint my best on you.
Kokeshi gave herself a shake, and as her body moved, the limbs painted over her breasts and stomach moved like pale snakes under water.
Keep still, he barked, you’re ruining it!
As she rolled on the floor, he howled in agony. Stop, that is my best art! At least let me take a photograph!
She let out a sound between a laugh and a sob. Art is all very well, but I liked the earlier woman better. She moved, she lived, said Kokesi, smudging the new limbs beyond repair.
——
If you liked this story you might like some of the stories I wrote for my A to Z last year.
As a co-host, I end with A to Z Challenge reminders:

Amazing!
That picture is amazing!
Just stopping by from the A to Z challenge. Good luck with the rest!
This has to be one of my favourites of your shorts/flash pieces so far. Glad I stopped by today:)
I loved where you went with it – very creative. He seems quite cruel and manipulative.
Great story based off of two great prompts. The photo is so alive.
What an amazing story. I had to read it a few times to pick up the subtle nuances. A-Z visitor and new follower
– Maurice Mitchell
The Geek Twins | Film Sketchr
@thegeektwins | @mauricem1972
I love the symbolism
She represents most women does she not?
hugs for a gr8 month of A to Z
L is for Lovely Lady
what a wonderful feeling your story gave me!!
He held the brush in his mouth so perhaps he was painting the hands he was lacking himself.
LOVE that picture! And the limbless doll brings such vivid imagery to mind!
J.C. Martin
A to Z Blogger
Aloha,
Am *so* glad pictures of EuroDisney nerds brought a smile… it *was* a fun time…. except for the damn Mouse 🙂
Thanks for visit aginghippietales!
I have a problem with administration of my blogspot account due to forgotten original passwords etc and could not get a new account going in time for the challenge. So unable to amend word verification for now. Will be better prepared next time. Thanks for all advice given.
PS: We have a couple of mutual friends I think…Sharon & Gwen.
This is amazing Damyanti and the picture is gorgeous.
Denise
Beautiful! Thanks for posting!
Lovely story! I empathise with both the artist and the girl. And ooh, that's a great photo of painted lips.
I enjoyed this so much. Very evocative.
Sort of an anti-Pygmalion story. Wonderful. And I love that photo too.
{ami}
http://sundrysumthins.wordpress.com/
Interesting. I want to know more….
Yes, definately brilliant! And slightly freaky in a totally good way!
T.x
Tessa's Blurb and The Book Bunnies
I second every opinion over here.
I loved the ending, that she didn't need his false limbs and didn't sit patiently so he could marvel at his own genius!
Wow. That was pretty deep! Thanks for sharing, and I love the photo!
So wonderful! By the way, I love the photograph that inspired the story.
Cherie Reich – Author
Surrounded by Books Reviews
Loved the originality. I was completely enthralled.
Fantastic! I loved how the inanimate came alive.
What an unusual fascinating story! I loved it.
I agree with everyone else.
beautiful illustration of how the real beauty of something just as it is exists and trying to change it is often more damaging.
*~ MAJK ~*
Twitter @safireblade
A TO Z Blog Challenge
Awesome story…
I love how you are able to breathe life into objects. The moving of the limbs was very vivid in my mind.
Von L
The Growing Writer
Brilliant!